February 17, 2017

Mahe- A Colonial French Town

Mahe overlooks the Arabian Sea as Mayyazhi River disgorges
herself into it. Located at the mouth of the river, Mahe or Mayyazhi as it was
earlier called, is all of 9 sq km. The tiny French colony which is a part of
the union territory of Pondicherry is just 8 kms south of Thalassery, and was
an important trading post of French East India Company during the 18th
century. The colonial influences are not evident everywhere, but there are a
couple of old buildings and structures which are a reminiscence of its French
rule. The fort built by the French is presently in ruins.

Mahe Bridge separates Kannur district from the union
territory and also offers a gorgeous view of the Mayyazhi River disembarking
into the Arabian Sea. As soon as you cross over, a bevy of liquor shops welcome
you, a frequent getaway for people from Thalassery and surroundings for a swig.

The famed St. Theresa’s church of Mahe attracts people of all
religions from across Malabar. Built in 1736, colourful danglers and numerous
frames adorn the interiors of this beautiful church. The festival in October is
when people throng the church and streets of Mahe.

Though Mayyazhi doesn’t have a list of attractions, Tagore Park and
its walkway are where all the action happens. The park is located adjoining the
Mayyazhi River and its walkway runs parallel until it
joins the Arabian Sea. Lined with tall trees, the park also houses the statue
of Marianne, depicting the ideologies of French revolution. The walls of the park have a visual portrayal
of the famed Malayalam writer, M. Mukundan’s ‘Mayyazhipuzhayude Theerangalil’
(By the banks of River Mayyazhi), probably his most famous creation.

The walkway has been well done up to give a glimpse of the
colonial times with cast iron railings, nicely designed street lights and benches to enjoy the evenings. As the sun sets, the well lit up walkway is
a gorgeous sight. Apart from the lovely sunset in the evening, one can also
spot many birds frolicking near the estuary.

The walkway leads further to a hillock which has a watch
tower and a lighthouse. The lighthouse isn’t
open for public, but the watch tower offers panoramic vistas of the Arabian Sea,
the beach and the swaying coconut trees. The hillock is well wooded with various
trees and paths meandering through them.

Other than the walkway, the government house next to it is
one of the prominent buildings where one can see the influence of the French
architecture. The building currently has a museum which displays relics and
artefacts from Mahe’s history.

The other popular attractions include water sports complex
which offers boating facilities and remnants of Othenan’s fort.

Mahe might not be a long stop over for visitors, but a visit
while in Thalassery is well recommended to know more about this small piece of colonial
France in Kerala.

Travel Tips:

A few hours to half a day would suffice to explore Mahe.

Make Thalassery your base while visiting Mahe.

Most of the attractions are near the estuary and park.

Location:

Northern Kerala, close to Thalassery (8 Kms). NH- 17 passes through Mahe and there are
frequent buses connecting to Thalassery and Vadakara.

Closest major rail head- Thalassery

Closest airport- Kozhikode (87 Kms)

Food and Accommodation:

There are bakeries and small restaurants near the park. Mahe
is known for its numerous liquor shops and bars (the taxes are subsidized as it
is a union territory). It is recommended to stay in Thalassery, which has
numerous budget and mid range options.

That walkway by the estuary looks very inviting. I remember the bridge and the liquor shops from a drive from Kozhikode to Kannur. That's pretty much all I've seen of Mahe. Thank you for the sights and the quick trip. You got to go up that lighthouse??? Awesome views. :)